Letters to the Editor: Sunday, February 17, 2013

Sunday

Feb 17, 2013 at 9:00 AM

Options to eliminating recreation dept.… Kiwanis aid to St. Vincent DePaul was appreciated

Options to eliminating recreation dept.Dear Mayor DuMars and City Commissioners,

I am writing today to express my opinion on eliminating the city of Adrian Recreation Department. As many others in our community, I too have used the programs through the recreation department. A recreation department has many benefits to the community. The programs keep kids busy and out of trouble. They keep people healthy in a time when obesity is such a huge problem in America and they do more than that, as I have listed below. The benefits of local recreation services:

Attracting investment:— Parks and open space create a high quality of life that attracts tax-paying businesses and residents to communities.— Corporate CEOs say that employee quality of life is the third most important factor in locating a new business.— Small company owners say recreation, parks and open space are the highest priority in choosing a new location for their business.

When looking at the budget, most of the programs themselves are self-sustaining and it’s the overhead costs that are mostly the issues. There are grants for items such as playground equipment, baseball field lighting and equipment, and I’m sure there are other items. Let’s find a way to fix the issue and not just cut it altogether. Let’s raise the fees if we need to. Many other communities charge higher fees than Adrian.

If we don’t have anything to offer to the citizens then people may move away. Let’s not deter businesses and families from moving here, let’s make our city more enticing. With three colleges in Adrian we have an opportunity to make an impression on these college graduates. Maybe they would like to buy a home here or start a business in Adrian. It’s a proven fact: cities that have great programs and events attract people.

Thank you so much for your time. May we all come together as a community and make the best choices for everyone.

Sincerely,Michele ContrerasAdrian city resident

P.S. City residents — Please show your support by attending the commission meeting at 7 p.m. Monday night, Feb. 18.

Kiwanis aid to St. Vincent DePaul was appreciatedTo the editor,

Thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Adrian for their generous donation, which will benefit our St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry clients.

During the entire year of 2012 the pantry gave food to 2,850 children, 3,315 adults and 967 seniors. We give them three days’ worth of food. Some of our clients are senior citizens and some are the working poor who need extra help with food.

On behalf of our clients and our entire hungry community in Lenawee County, we are truly grateful to the Kiwanis Club.